Apparatus for analyzing gases



June. 1927' J. ALSBERG ET AL APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING GASES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 18, 1917 Evy/7160 7 5: Jews fijsba 2Sheets-Shoot 2 J. ALSBERG ET AL Original v i y 1917' APPARATUS FORANALYZING GASES June 9 Patented June 28, 1927.

UNETE. STATES 1,633,881 PATENT OFFHIE.

JULIUS AIiSBERG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND PAUL J. RALPH, F TRENTON, NEWJER- SEY; SAID RALPH ASSIGNOR TO SAID ALSBERG.

APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING GASES.

Original application filed May 18, 1917, Serial No. 169,475. Divided'andthis application filed February 5, 1924. Serial ,No. 690,855.

This invention relates to an improved ap-' paratus for analyzing gases,and more particularly to an apparatus of this general character whereinan indication and recordation of the proportion of carbon dioxide influe gases, blast furnaces, gases, producer gases, etc, is effectedautomatically and continuously. This application is a division of ourprior co-pending application Serial No. 169, l75, filed May 18, 1917,now Patent Number 1,485,757.

One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of thistype wherein water is employed to draw the gases into the apparatus tobe analyzed, said water' also serving as the absorbing medium for thecarbon dioxide, thereby obviating the use of chemicals'for this purposeand hence rendering the operation of the device simple and economical ascompared with the more expensive methods now in common use.

iinother object is the provision of means whereby the absorbing mediumprior to its admission into the apparatus is saturated with all of theconstituent gases of the gaseous mixture to be analyzed excepting theone, the percentage of which is to be determined.

Other objects of the invention are the provision of automatic means forcontrol ling the pressure of the gases as they are admitted to theapparatus; the provision of means whereby the temperature of the saidgases is made to coincide substantially with the temperature of theabsorbing medium; and further to provide an apparatus which shallaccurately indicate and record any changes in the volumetric proportionsof said gases at substantially the same time at which such changes takeplace.

Other objects and advantages will be apwater being conducted into saidtank from any suitable source tl'irough the intake pipe 2. An overflowpipe is illustrated at 3. In order that the watersupplied to theapparatus maybe maintained at a uniform pressure, the tank 1 is of theconstant level type, it being provided with a float & adapted to operatea valve 5 positioned in the intake pipe 2 to autoi'natically control thesupply of water to said tank. Cooperating with the intake pipe 2 withintank 1 is an aspirator 6 adapted to thoroughly saturate the water withair as the same passes into the tank 1. Suitable batlie plates 7 areshown positioned within thetank 1 and are adapted to separate any excessair from the water after it has passed through the aspirator 6 and priorto its passage through the outlet pipe 8 into the cooling chamber 9. Airmay escape through an opening in the top of the tank.

The pipe 8 is. provided with a suitable valve 10 adapted to control thepressure of the water as the same passes therethrough.

From the cooling chamber 9, the water is conducted through a suitableoutlet 11 into the chamber 12, from whence it flows through theelongated restricted passage or throat 12 leading from the chamber 12,through the pipe 13 and-into the separating chamber 14. The chamber 12is shown in the drawings as provided with an elongated conical nozzle 15connected with the gas chamber 16 by means of a suitable temperatureequalizer 17, said gas chamber being supplied with a portion of thecombustion gases through pipe 18. A pipe 19 conducts the gas from thechamber 16 into the te1nperature equalizer 17.

The gas chamber is provided with means whereby the pressure of thegasses passing therefrom into the temperature equalizer 17 is maintainedconstant, said means being shown in the drawings in the form of a valve20 adapted to control the flow of gases into said chamber 16, said valvebeing provided with an elongated stem 21, which is shown extending downthrough the opening 22 in the bottom of said chamber. At the lower endof the stem 21 is attached a suitable balancing weight 23. R-igidlysecured to the valve stem 21 above the weight 23 is a pressurecontrolled member 2 1 which is adapted to float in the oil or water seal24:. The pressure controlled member 24' is subjected on one side to thepressure within the gas chamber 16, which is usually below atmosphericpressure, due to the suction of the gases from said chamber through thenozzle in the manner hereinafter described. The other side of the member24 is open to atmospheric pressure. It will thus be noted thatvariations in pressure will cause the float 2-1 to rise and fall, whichmotion is transmitted to the valve stem 21 and operates to either cutoff the gas supply or to regulate it by opening the valve varyingdegrees.

It is well known that combustion gases, such as the present apparatus isparticularly adapted to analyze, are composed substantially of threeconstituents, namely, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. As abovestated, the water, as it enters the system, is thoroughly saturated withair, and accordingly, with oxygen and nitrogen. As the water passes fromthe cooling chamber 9 through chamber 12 and the throat 12, it draws gas"from the chamber 16 through the nozzle 15 and conveys the same into aseparating chamber lat. During this action, the carbon dioxide forming apart of the gases emitted from the nozzle 15, is absorbed by the water,the same being quite soluble therein. The other gases, namely, oxygenand nitrogen, are not absorbed, however, in view of the fact that saidgases are much less soluble and since the water, prior to its admissioninto the chamber 12, has been thoroughly saturated with these gases.

The separating chamber l lis shown provid-ed with a suitable battlewhich acts to separate the unabsorbed gases from the water as the samepasses through said chamber let, said unabsorbed gases rising in thetube 26 which forms a part of the separating chamber l t to the columnof gas above the water in said tube. The tube 26 is substantiallyrectangular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2, the same beingconstructed in this manner to prevent the formation of large bubbleswithin said tube, which would tend to disturb the gas column and also toa'tiord a greater radiating surface which aids in the equalization ofthe ten'iperature between the gases .and the absorbing medium. Theinclined root 2? of the separating chamber 14 also in the separation ofthe unabsorbed gases. From the top of the tube 26 a small bore tubeconducts the separated and unabsorbed gases to the cross 29 from whencethey are conducted through the pipe 30 into the temperature equalizer 3iand out through the restricted orifice 32.

The water, in which the carbon dioxide has been absorbed, rises in thestand-pipe 33 and overflows into compartment 3% of tank 34 after itspassage through the separating chamber id and around the bathe 25. Fromthis compartment 34 the water descends through the water jacket 85 whichsurrounds the tube 26 through which the unabsorbed gases rise and actsto equalize the temperature between said gases and said" water. Asuitable return pipe 36 conducts the water into the compartment 3% oftank 3 after it has passed through the water jacket from whence itdrainsofi through pipe 37. The temperature equalizer 81 is preferablymounted within the stand pipe and acts to maintain the temperature ofthe unabsorbed gases passing therethrough and out through the restrictedorifice 32the same as the temperature of the water. The temperature ofthe restricted orifice 32 is also regulated by the liquid rising in pipe33, said oritice being preferably housed within a suitable chamber 38through which said liquid circulates. It will thus be seen that adequatemeans have been provided whereby the tenr perature of the unabsorbedgases is made to coincide substantially with the temperature of theabsorbing medium, which is very essential to a successtul and accuraterecordation of the carbon dioxide present in the gases being ana yzed.The temperature equalizer 31 is shown provided with a water sealed drain39 one end of which extends into the tank 34. This seal 39 permits anywater which may condense in the temperture equalizer 31 to drain off andoverflow into the tank This drain is preferably provided with a suitablevalve 10 by which communication therethrough may be cut oii' in startingthe apparatus. This valve also provides means whereby the seal may betilled. The other two branches 41 and d2 of the cross 29 leadrespectively to a glass manometer tube 43 and to an indicator'andrecorder at. A suitable valve 45 provides means whereby the manometer 43may be tilled and also provides for cutting oft access thereto whendesired. The valve 46 serves for cutting oil the indicator and recorder44 nd the valve 41? mounted in the arm 28 cat the cross 29 through whichall of the unabsorbed pass, provides means whereby said may be cut oiiwhen starting the apparatus to prevent flooding. The manometer 43 isprovided with a suitable scale 48 which is adapted to cooperatetherewith to indicate the proportion of carbon dioxide contained in thegas being analyzed.

. The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that combustiongases containing no arbon dioxide are being analyzed, it will be notedthat there is no absorption in the chan'iber 12 or in the throat 12 asthe water draws the gas in through the conical nozzle l5 and conductsthe same into the separating chamber 14:. Accordingly, all of thecombustion gases drawn through said nozzle 15 will be separated inchamber 14- and will rise into theair column above the liquid in thetube 26, through the pipe 28 and into the cross 29, through thetemperature equalizer 31 and outthrough the restricted orifice 32. Theseunabsorbed gases will, however, accumulate in the air column until theliquid in the tube 26 has been forced down suliiciently to result inenough pressure to force the gases out through the restricted orifice assaid gases rise into said air column. The pressure thus produced, itwill be noted, is transmitted to the manometer tube 43 and to theindicator and recorder 1 through the branches -11 and 42, respectivc-ly,ot the cross 29, where said pressure acts to cause said instrun'ients togive an accurate and continuous indication of the amount of carbondioxide present. This reading of the manomel'er a3 and of the recorder14 caused by the pressure of the unabsorbed gases, when no carbondioxide is present in the gas being analyzed, fixes the zero mark ofboth instruments, thus indicating that there is no carbon dioxidepresent. Gn the other hand, should there be any carbon dioxide presentin the combustion gases drawn into the apparatus, the same will beabsorbed by the water passing therethrough, and, as a result, thequantity of unabsorbed gases which are separated in the chamber 14 andcaused to rise into tube 26, will produce a pressure less than thepressure present when there is no carbon dioxide in the gases beinganalyzed. Accordingly, it will be noted that the manometer reading andthe recorded reading will no longer be zero butwill indicate that carbondioxide is present, and also the exact proportion it bears to the otherconstituents of the gaseous mixture being analyzed,

'lng medium from tank 1 flows This is due to the fact that the scalescooperating with these instruments are calibrated in such manner as toindicate the various proportions of carbon dioxide present. During theoperation of the apparatus, it will be noted thata constant volume ofthe gas to be analyzed is drawn through nozzle 15 by reason of the factthat the water cooperating with said nozzle is under constant pressure,this being controlled by means of the constant level supply tank 1 andthe valve 10. The pressure ofisaid gas is also maintained constant, dueto the automatic operation of the pressure regulator. Furthermore, meanshas been provided whereby the temperature of the gas admitted into thechamber 12 is made to coincide with the term 7 perature of the waterinto which it is drawn, and that means has been provided whereby thetemperature otthe unabsorbed gases is alsoregulated prior to theemission of said gases from the orifice 82. 'Iheretcrmno expansion orcontraction of the gases, due to temperature changes, can take place. Itfollows, therefore, that the gas escaping from the restricted orifice isof substantially the same volume as the gas drawn 32 as rapidly throughthe nozzle 15, except- .tor the reduction in volume Which is caused bythe absorption of carbon dioxide should there be any present in said gaswhen the snare is admitted to the apparatus. It will thus be. seen thata gas analyzer has been provided which will accurately indicate the percent of carbon dioxide present in the gas being analyzed, thediscrepam-ies generally caused in devices of this character by changesin pressure, volume and temperature of the gas, while it is beinganalyzed, being reduced to a. minimum by the means above d scribed.

. In Fig. 4 is illustrated a slightly modified form of gas analyzingapparatus. In this embodiment of the invention, the temperatureequalization between the gas drawn into the apparatus and the absorbingmedium, is efiected in the chamber 12, the equal.- izer 17 beingdispensed with. An apertured plate 49 is positioned-in said chamber 12at the point .where the walls thereof begin to converge, said platebeing provided with the elongated conical nozzle 50 which corresponds tothe nozzle 15 described in connection with the preferred form of apparat-us. A second. plate 51 is mounted above said apertured plate 419,and forms a cover for the chamber 12. spring 52 is provided to retainplate 49 on its seat and the nozzle 50 in proper position in the throat12, The gas is drawn from the chamber 16 through a coiled pipe 53mounted in the chamber 12 between the plates 49 and'51, and out throughnozzle 50 into the throat 12 by the absorbing medium as it flows pastsaid nozzle. The absorbthrough chamber 12 around the coiled pipe 53, andthus aliords means whereby the temperature of said gas is made tocoincide substantially with the temperature of the absorbing medium.From the chamber 12, the water flows through the apertured plate 19 anddown around the nozzle 50, substantially as described. The unabsorbedgases are separated from the absorbing medium in the chamber 14, aspreviously described, and rise through tube 26 into the cross 29 fromwhence said gases are conducted through the branch 30 down through pipe33 into a jar or, other vessel 54:, wherein any moisture which may bepresent in said gases due to their contact with the absorbing medium isremoved. To aid in the removal of the moisture from the gases, a smallcup-shaped battle 55 is mounted below the mouth of tube 30 in the jar54, said cup, when partly filled with water, having a tendency toincrease the condensation of the moisture, the gases are deflectedtherefrom. A stop cock 5G is provided in the bottom of the by means ofwhich the condensed moisture col lected therein maybe drawn off whendesired.

A suitable coiled iii) The gases, after passing through jar 54, risethrough the pipe 57, also extending through pipe 33, and escape throughthe restricted orifice 32 provided at the upper end of said pipe justabove the level of the liquid in tank 34. It will thus be noted that thetemperature of the gases passing through the pipes 30 and 57 ismaintained constant by reason of the circulation oi the absorbing mediumaround said pipes as it passes up through the pipe 33. As a furthermeans of maintaining the temperature of the unabsorbed gases and theabsorbing medium uniform the vessel 54; is housed within a suitablecontainer 58 through which said absorbing medium flows prior to its discharge through the overflow pipe 59. It will thus be noted that thetemperature of the gases as they pass through the jar 54, Which issubmerged in the absorbing medium within the container 58, will bemaintained substantially constant.

The branches 41 and 42 of the cross 29, it will be noted, communicatewith the manometer 4:3 and the recorder l t substantially in the mannershown and described in connection with the preferred cn'ibodimentof theinvention. The manometer in this form of the invention, is shown ofslightly moditied construction from that: illustrated in Fig. 1, andcomprises a plurality of tubes 43 and 43", the latter of whichterminates above the level of the liquid contained in the receptacled3", while the tube a3 dips into said liquid. It will thus be noted thatthe pressure of the unabsorbed gases will act upon the liquid in thereceptacle e13 to force the same up into the tube 43 to various heightscorresponding to the proportion of carbon dioxide present. The gaschamber 16 in this form of invention is preterably of the sameconstruction as that heretofore described, a suitable manometer 60 beingprovided in connection therewith to provide means for indicating thepressure within said chamber.

The various parts of this apparatus are shown positioned within asuitable housing 61. A cock 62 is provided in the base of the chamber 14to attord means whereby the liquid used in the apparatus may be drawnoff if desired. Another cock 63 is provided which atlords means fordraining oil the liquid from the manometer 43.

If desired. the gases emitted from the re stricted orifice 32 may alsobe utilized to indicate the percent of carbon dioxide present byconducting said gases to suitable devices provided with slightlymodified forms of calibrated scales. It will also be noted that theapparatus herein illustrated and described is not limited in its scopeto an analyzation of furnace gases or as a carbon dioxide indicator, butis also well adapted for use in analyzing any mixture of gases 1,ese,ss1

wherein one of said gases is more soluble than the others in the liquidmedium used.

It is obvious that various other changes and modifications may be madein the apparatus as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and, accordingly, therightis herein reserved to make such changes and modifications as fairly fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for analyzing a mixture of gases, at gas inlet, awater inlet, means adapted to cooperate with said gas inlet to controlthe pressure or the gases as they are drawn into said apparatus, meansfor equalizing the temperature between said gases and the water flowingthrough said water inlet, means for causing the absorption of one ofsaid gases in said water, means for separating the unabsorbed gases fromsaid water, a restricted outlet for said unabsorbed gases, and meanswhereby the pressure re; quired to force said unabsorbed gases throughsaid outlet acts to indicate the proportion said absorbed gas bears tosaid unabsorbed gases.

2. In an apparatus for analyzing gas, means for saturating a liquidwith'all but one oi. the constitutents of said gas prior to theadmission of said liquid into said apparatus, means "for conducting thegas to be analyzed through said liquid to thereby cause the temperatureof said gas to coincide substantially with that of said liquid, meansfor effecting the absorption of one of the constituents of said by saidliquid, means to separate the unabsorbed constituents of said gas fromsaid liquid, andmeans whereby said unabsorbed gases act to produce acontinuous indication and recordation of the proportion said absorbedconstituent bears to said unabsorbed constitutents.

3. A gas analyzer comprising an inlet for the gases to be analyzed, anabsorbing medium inlet, means for effecting the absorption of one ofsaid gases by said medium, means for separating the unabsorbed gasesfrom said medium, an outlet for said unabsorbed gases, means forcontrolling the temperature of said unabsorbed gases and said outlet.and means whereby the pressure required to "force said. unabsorbed gasesthrough said outlet acts to indicate the proportion said absorbed gasbears to said unabsorbed gases.

4. A gas analyzer comprising a water inlet, means co-operating therewithadapted to keep the water passing therethrough at con,- stant pressureand velocity, means whereby said water at a constant pressure acts todraw into the apparatus a constant volume of .the gasto be analyzed,means for causing the temperature of said gas to coincide with that ofsaid water, means for effecting the absorption of one of theconstituents of said gas by said water, and means whereby the unabsorbedconstituents of said gas are made to pass through a restricted passageto thereby produce pressure, said pressure being adapted to operate amanometer and a recorder to indicate the proportion said absorbedconstituent bears to said unabsorbed constituents.

5. A gas analyzing apparatus comprising automatic means for regulatingthe pressure of the gas admitted thereto for analyzation, a coolingmedium for said gas, an absorbing chamber, means whereby said coolingmedium cooperates with said chamber to draw a constant volumeof said gasinto said apparatus, and to etleetthe absorption of one of theconstituents thereof in said cooling medium, a restricted outlet for theunabsorbed constituents of said gas, a tem perature equalizer for saidunabsorbed constituents and for said restricted outlet, and meanswhereby the pressure required to force said unabsorbed constituentsthrough said restricted outlet acts to produce a continuous indicationof the proportion said absorbed constituent bears to said unabsorbedconstituents.

6. A gas analyzer comprising an automatic pressure regulator, atemperature equalizer, a receptacle through which water flowscontinuously thereby absorbing one of the constituents of the gas to beanalyzed, means for separating the unabsorbed constituents therefrom, arestricted outlet for said unabsorbed constituents whereby the pressurerequired to force. said unabsorbed gases through said outlet acts toindicate the proportion said absorbed gas bears to said unabsorbed gasesand means for indicating 'said proportion.

them at constant temperature, a restricted outlet for said unabsorbedconstituents, and means whereby the pressure required to force saidunabsorbed constituents through said outlet indicates the relativeproportions of carbide dioxide present.

8. A gas analyzer comprising a restricted passage through which anabsorbing medium flows, a gas nozzle projecting into said passage insuch wise that the flow of the absorbing medium through said passageacts to draw a constant volume of gas through said nozzle and into saidpassage whereby said medium and gas are thoroughly mixed and theabsorption of a portion of said gas in said medium effected, means forthereafter separating the unabsorbed portion of said gas from saidmedium, and an indicator, said unabsorbed portion of said gas beingutilized to actuate said indicator in such wise as to indicate theproportion said absorbed'portion bears to said unabsorbed portion.

In testimony whereof, we have subscribed our names.

JULIUS ALSBERG. PAUL J. RALPH.

